You’ve seen how attractive your neighbor’s lawn is, and you want to make yours look just as nice. A green lawn is not only attractive, but it also increases your home’s value and curb appeal.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your grass greener. There are many simple and cost-effective methods you can try.
Here are the top five effective ways to make your grass greener.
1. Aerate the lawn
Your lawn is a very important component of your home, especially if you have pets or kids. With the many activities that you use your lawn for, you will eventually have compacted soil. Even mowing the lawn weekly can compact the soil beneath the grass.
Compacted soil has poor air circulation and poor water drainage, which results in poor nutrient absorption. Furthermore, earthworms and other organisms can’t live in compacted soil. This means any grass you have on compacted soil will never be healthy. The roots will not get enough of the air, water, and nutrients they need to thrive.
So, the first thing you need to do to make your grass greener is to aerate the soil. In the process of aeration, water will also find its way into the soil. You can aerate the soil by digging 3-inch deep holes all over the lawn. Regularly doing this will deliver enough air to the roots and allow them to grow healthier. You can also use a simple handheld aerating tool or rent a large soil aerating machine. Aerating your lawn will also benefit the organisms that live in the soil. They, in turn, will help the grass grow and improve the soil quality.
2. Proper watering
You need to water your lawn properly and make sure the water goes deep enough to reach the roots. Do not underwater or over-water. If you are too economical with your watering, your lawn will never turn green.
The grass needs water so it can feed on the nutrients in the soil. But if it is too much, it will wash these nutrients away. Therefore, you have to provide your grass with just enough water to help it absorb the nutrients. Watering will also help keep your grass cool in hot weather.
You should water your grass once a week with 1 inch of water. However, the amount of watering will depend on the prevailing weather in your region and the grass species you have. It will also depend on the soil type and the slope of your yard.
To know when to water your lawn, dig a hole of about 3 to 4 inches into the soil and feel it. If it feels dry, then it is time to water it. You can also use a soil tester to determine the moisture level in the soil.
3. Use organic lawn fertilizers
Organic lawn fertilizers are better than their inorganic counterparts for several reasons. They are environmentally friendly and less expensive. They are also more effective than synthetic fertilizers. In fact, organic fertilizers produce greener lawns than artificial fertilizers. Furthermore, they are safer and healthier for your pets and kids.
4. Grasscycle grass cuttings
Grasscycling means you reuse the grass you’ve cut from your lawn. Grasscycling will provide your grass with the nutrients it needs quite cheaply. And it’s a simple process. Just leave the cut grass on the lawn to decompose. Don’t collect it, throw it away, or burn it.
Grass clippings, when left on the lawn, will decompose naturally, and return the nutrients to the soil. They also act as mulch, protecting the soil against direct sunlight and helping the soil to retain water. This way, the clippings will help you take care of your lawn without you ever having to spend a dime.
Another benefit of grasscycling is that it improves soil texture and increases soil aeration. It does this by boosting the number of important organisms in the soil. By using this method, you’ll also reduce your expenses on fertilizers and watering.
While you can use any mower for grasscycling, buying a reel mower would be more helpful. These mowers are easy to use, effective, quiet, and will leave the grass clippings where they are supposed to be. If you believe the grass cuttings don’t look attractive, you can compost them before applying them. They’ll still serve the same purpose. As you compost the grass clippings, you can also add some garden or kitchen waste to boost its nutrient content.
Composting has many benefits. It improves soil drainage, reduces garden pests and soil-borne plant diseases, and balances soil pH. It also prevents erosion and recycles kitchen and yard wastes. Compost also attracts beneficial organisms, such as worms and insects.
5. Cut the grass to the recommended height
Cutting your grass too low will expose the soil to direct sunlight. You need to know what height to cut your grass to guarantee good growth. Don’t set your lawnmower to the highest or lowest cutting level, but choose an appropriate height for your grass species.
You also need to cut the grass correctly, so you do not interfere with its growth.
The blades of your lawnmower must be sharp, so it can cut the grass well. Again, it would be a good idea to use a reel mower. This type of mower operates like scissors and won’t tear the grass.
Conclusion
As you can see, it isn’t expensive to make your lawn greener. The methods discussed above are quite affordable, with some even costing nothing. All that you need is patience and the will to work hard. Your lawn won’t turn green overnight. You must keep working on it and use the above methods until you succeed.
Once you have a green lawn, you must work to maintain it. You must water it, add fertilizer, cut it, etc. If you are too busy to do these on your own, you can hire an expert to care for your lawn.